Sarasota County turns down volume on music

After complaints by Bob's Boathouse neighbors, the county votes to reduce noise levels allowed at bars and restaurants countywide.

JESSIE VAN BERKEL

“Boomp bah boomp bah boomp boom boom.”

Michelle Chapman rapped the beat of the bass to county commissioners Wednesday.

She, and more than a dozen neighbors of Bob’s Boathouse restaurant, desperately wanted commissioners to understand. They were tired of being bombarded by music and believed the sound regulations the county was proposing would not go far enough to bring them peace.

After an hour-and-a-half of testimony about noise woes, commissioners passed the more restrictive decibel level limit that neighbors requested. The change will affect businesses countywide.

Previously, music and other entertainment was allowed to reach 75 dBC on the decibel scale, which measures sound at different frequencies. The C-scale catches more of the bass, which is low frequency sound.

Staff had recommended a 70 dBC and 65 dBA limit, but residents pointed out that many other communities in Florida limited the sound to 60 dBA. Commissioners decided that if other places can work within that limit so can Sarasota County, and supported the 60 dBA maximum.

That 5 decibel difference decreases the sound by 25 to 28 percent, according to code enforcement officer Kevin Burns.

Chapman played an example of music at the new level to the filled commission chambers.

“We’re willing to live with this as a compromise to the business community,” she said. “It’s not going to be very pleasant.”

The new version of the sound ordinance also changes when businesses have to comply with the lower decibel level. They must turn down the music after 10 p.m. instead of 11 p.m.

And if a code enforcement officer cannot measure sound from the property line of the bar or restaurant — because a waterway, like Phillippi Creek, or a road with heavy traffic is in the way — then the officer can take the reading from the complainant’s property.

The changes could have major unintended consequences on other businesses in the county that were not at the table Wednesday, Commissioner Joe Barbetta said. He was the lone vote against the sound ordinance changes. Commissioner Carolyn Mason was not present.

None of the county’s chambers of commerce, or any businesses, have spoken out in opposition to the changes, said Assistant Zoning Administrator Donna Thompson.

Commissioner Nora Patterson said that this change will have a limited scope and bands will learn to turn down the music or take it indoors.

But for people living near Bob’s Boathouse — the very residents the change was intended to help — the new ordinance rules could have little effect, Commissioner Christine Robinson warned.

“They’re intent on doing what they’re doing,” Robinson said of the business. “I want to make sure folks don’t get lured into believing this will solve the problem.”

She also noted the difference in sound levels between this county and other communities is because they measure from different points — Sarasota County generally measures from the property where the sound is coming from, while other places measure it on the receiving end.

The commissioners did not close the book on the sound ordinance. They asked staff to continue looking into how other communities deal with the issue and see if there is a better solution.